Christmas Cards and Letters

     Christmas Cards.  Every year I try to come up with something new and different involving family photos and a newsletter.  I've actually been scolded for leaving out that newsletter as it apparently is usually good for a laugh or two.  But it's different this year.  After spending much of my 'free' time the last two months with a dear woman who didn't have much time left on this earth, I was blessed and brokenhearted to be with her as she took her final journey Home last Sunday night.  So our newsletter took on a whole new meaning this year.

Christmas 2015

Hello Everyone.  Well.  I started this letter and then was unable to finish it for a few days.  As many of you know my husband's mom has been very ill.  Last night she went home to be with the Lord.  So, this letter is not going to be the usual letter that tells about trips and jobs and our accomplishments this past year.  It’s going to be about things I/we’ve learned this past year because that‘s more of what is on my mind today.

Say ‘I love you’ often.    You can never say it often enough.  Even if you don’t feel it at the time, say it.  Before you know it, you’ll start feeling it and believing it and doing it.  You seriously never know when it will be the last time you get to tell someone that you love them.

Truly be thankful for what you have.  We’ve lived in our house for 22 years and just recently I realized it is home.  I can’t imagine living anywhere else.    It’s where the dishwasher doesn’t always work right and the pool turns green way too often.  Where sinks get stopped up and the garage door gets stuck.  And it’s where our Christmas tree stands in the corner.   Where we find comfort.   Where we can be ourselves and know it’s ok.

Just because someone doesn’t eat like you, think like you, believe like you or look like you doesn’t mean they are wrong.  Learn from those around you.  Even if you don’t agree with them it will help you know more about yourself. 

Don’t let your circumstances get you down.  We pray and ask God to fix things.  Then when things start falling apart even worse, we blame Him or don’t think He’s answering our prayers.  Thing is, He’s answering.  And when things are falling apart, more than likely they are actually coming into place.  Just wait.  Trust Him.

Pride.  Ugh.  Pride.  It divides.  It separates.  It brings unforgiveness which leads to bitterness which never leads to anything good.  So nip it in the bud!

And last, back to love.  Never be afraid to love.  Don’t worry about being loved back.  Just love.  Love never fails.  Love never gives up.  Love.

    So that's basically what our friends and family will be receiving from us this week.  No talk about trips to the beach or job changes or graduations.  Just words from a blessed and broken heart.  Mine.  

Senior Moments

     "November 29, 2015.  The last day of November.  2015?!?!  It's 2017!  They got it wrong!"  This is what I heard recently as an otherwise happy senior sat down to read the Sunday paper.  I'm not sure why she thought November 29th was the last day of November and I have absolutely no clue why she thought it was 2017.  But she didn't seem to let it bother her too long.  Once she got passed the date being wrong on the newspaper, she continued catching up on the local news.  Senior moments.
     Just what is a 'senior' anyway?  If you go by the typical bank, anyone age 50 or over can open a 'senior' account.  That 50th birthday also brings mail.  AARP mail.  When I turned 50 and got that mail, I promptly took the contents they had sent me to read, wrote a note on it letting them know I didn't want their propaganda, put it in their return envelope and sent it back to them.  I just really don't think 50 means you are a senior. 
     Turning 'this age' has brought on some issues though.  One of those------readers.  Not what you would call a fashion statement for sure. And I'm very glad that I can get them at the dollar store because I seem to need at least one pair in every room.  Recently I had put my readers down by a plaque that read "Great is Thy Faithfulness".  When I looked up, the readers were magnifying "Thy".  Now how amazing is that!  Our God was magnified as a result of me getting older!  Guess we could call that a pretty good senior moment.
     Today I talked to a man who turned 90 years old yesterday.  He was very proud of that fact.  He told me that his wife was only 88.  He was quick to add that she didn't look it!  Awwwwwww.........  After 70 years of marriage he was still head over heels in love with her.  He told me how he only remembered having one fight with her and during that fight she threw a new bar of soap at him.  He said the bar of soap was hard but she missed!  He had no idea what that argument had been about.  Today he was concerned about taking care of his wife.  After 70 years he was still fulfilling his role as a husband.  It was so romantic it absolutely made my day!
     Sitting in church recently, my eyes met the eyes of a 104 year old lady.  She smiled slightly and I smiled back.  Not that was a senior moment!  Listening the saintly voices sing "I'll Fly Away", "Do Lord", "How Great Thou Art" and watching the longing on their faces as they sing about their Savior and their home in Heaven.  Watching them smile and hold up their index fingers as they sing "This little light of mine.  I'm gonna let it shine!"  I'm very much learning to appreciate 'Senior Moments'.